Hi friends,
This is a remarkable essay by David Brooks:
His article concludes,
In the face of this onslaught, the most heroic and vital response is this one: I will see you. I will see you as the infinitely valuable and non-repeatable person that you are. I will see you whole.
He practices what he preaches. He offers a candid, extended examination of what he learned from paying attention to the lives of Etty Hillesum, Edith Stein, and Simone Weil.
He starts with the story of Etty Hillesum and her self-absorption: all she could see was herself.
But by the end of the essay, we are encouraged to see God and one another with an honest, loving gaze.
I could share more ideas from the essay, but the important thing is to spend time paying attention to these women. That’s where the change happens.
Who are you paying attention to?